Electric heater



Nov. 24, 1931. w. J.' BRADFlsH 1,833,066

ELECTRIC HEATER l Filed March 4, 19151 2 Sheets-Skaai 1 A Home y Nov. 24, 1931. w. J. 'BRADFlsH 1,833,066

' ELECTRIC HEATER' Filed Maghz, 1951 2 sheets-sheer 2 A llorne y Patented-Nev. 24,l 1931 WALTER. J. runnen, or EAGLE man, wisconsin ZELECTRIG` HEATER Application led March 4, 1931-. Serial No. 520,106.

pipe leading from the radiator to the internal' combustion engine of an automobile for heat- V ing the water circulating through the cool- .15 ing system of Ithe internal combustion engine to yfacilitate starting of the engine in cold weather.. A still further object of theu invention is to provide a heater of the above mentioned character, which may be also suitably applied to the crank case of an `internal combustion engine for heating the oil therein, or to a frozen radiator of an automobile for thawing out the radiator.

vA still further object of the invention is to provide a heater of the characterabove mentioned, which can be also applied to the intake manifold of an .internal combustion to aid in starting the, same durino' cold v weather, and further to provide such atheater j which can also be used domestically for thawing frozen water pipes in buildings, and dwellings.

Other objects 'and advantages of the inas'venaonwiu become apparet during a Study of the followin description taken in connection with t e accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational sectional view of a portion of a vehicle showin the heater as applied to the water pipe leading from the radiator of the vehicle tothe internal com bustion engine.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view ofthe heater, the socket of an electric cord being shown 4 separated from the terminals of the heating element of the heater.

I to Figurefl is a bottom plan. view of the heat-v terminate in inwardly directed terminals 17 ings, it will be seen that the heater comprises a substantially semi-cylindrical casing formed of metal or any other suitable material, and including a pair of spaced semicylindrical walls 5 and Gconnected by longitudinal walls 7 and end walls 8. The walls of the hood thus provide an enclosed chamber within which is arranged an electric heat- 50 ing element extending for the full length of the hood and including a heating wire 9 embedded in suitable material 10; suitable insulating material being interposed between the heating element and the wall 5 of the hood.

Oppositely disposed closure gates for the hood are provided, and these gates designated by reference numeral 12 are hinged to the walls 7 as at 13.

The hood is adapted to embrace a pipe P, 70. I

which pipe P may be that pipe leading from the radiator R to the internal combustion `en ine E Aof. an automobile.

. Vhen the hood is so mounted on the pipe P, the same is retained in position on the pipe by swinging the gates 12 toward one another to a position opposite the open side of the hood to engage a. portion of the pipe P as suggested in Figure A handle member 14 is preferably formed 80 from a single length of spring wire, the wire being bent into a substantial V, and having the legs 15 thereof at their free ends terminating in lateral projectionsv 16. Projections 16 are adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of the hood and are bowed longitudinally to conform somewhat with the shape of the hood. Lateral extensions 16 at theirgfree end shown .in Figure 2. Y Loop 19 frictionally en,- 4100 gages the legs, will serve to retain the gate 12 1n said position.

The wire 9 of the heating element is provided with suitable spaced terminals 20 extending upwardly through the wall 5 of the hood for accommodating a conventional type of plug 21 on one end of an electric cord 22. The other end of the cord 22 may be provided with any suitable means such as the pronged plug 23 or'insertion in a wall outlet'or the like for supplying current to the electric heater.

From the foregoing then it will be seen that "I have devised -a comparatively simple electric heater structure, that can be readily applied to pipes and the like for heatin iiuid passing therethrough and that the eater is capable for use on the. water pipe of the water cooling system of an internal combustion engine, on the intake manifold ofthe internal combustionv engine, or can be readily applied to the crank case of an internal combustion engine by the employment of suitable `brackets (not shown) and inthe manner easily within the skill of a mechanic to serve as a heater for the oil in the crank case, and thus the heater can be used for almost any and all pipe conduits.

Even though I have herein lshown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of further changes, modifications and improvements coming within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

' 1. A heatercomprising in combination a hood substantially semi-circular in cross section'. heating means arranged in said hood, said hood being hollow to provide a chamber for accommodating said heating means, and said hood adapted to embrace a water pipe or the like, and oppositely disposed members hinged to the hood and adapted to swing inwardly toward one another for substantially closing the open side of the hood and to engage with the pipe conduit for securing the hood in position thereon.

2. A heater comprising in combination a hood substantially semi-circular in cross section, heating means arranged in said hood, said hood being hollow to provide a chamber for accommodating said heating means, and said hood adapted to embrace a water pipe or the like, and oppositely disposed members hinged to the hood and adapted to swing inwardly toward one another for substantially closing the open side of the hood and to engage with the pipe conduit for securing the hood in position thereon, and yieldable means for retaining said hinged members in the last referred to position.

3. A heater comprising a semi-cylindrical hoed provided with a substantially closed chamber, a heating element arranged in said chamber, a air of oppositely disposed members hinge to the hoodl and adapted to be swung inwardly for substantially closing one side of the hood,'a substantially V-shaped handle member, means for connecting the ends of said handle member to said hinge members, and a loop member rengaging opposite portions of said handle member and movable longitudinally relative thereto for controlling swinging movement of said hinged members.

4. A heater comprising in combination a hood, an electrical heating element arranged in said hood, a pair of oppositely disposed members hinged to said hood, and normally expanded compressible means engaging sald members for yieldably retaining said members in a closing osition relative to the open side of said hood).

5. In combination with a water pipe connecting a vehicle radiator with the water 'acket of an internal combustion engine, a

ood receiving between opposed portions thereof said pipe, a heating element arranged in the hood, members hinged to said 'oppositely disposed portions of the hood, and yieldable means connecting said hinged members for urging the same inwardly towards one another for retaining the hood on said pipe.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature.

WALTER J. BRADFISH. 

